Thanks to the folks at Fairtradekids.com for noticing us.

Check out what they say about us at http://fairtradekids.com/News.html

Fair Trade Kids reviews and recommends stores, websites and toys that they believe are good for children, good for the environment and good with the people that make them. The toys and stores featured on fairtradekids.com are committed to provide safe entertainment.

Fair Trade Kids believes that toys should embody what is important to us. "If every toy is not only educational but also supports fairness in trade and ethics in their making; if it tells us about different lands and people, if it shares values of love, honesty, hard work and courage, then it is not only a toy, it is a piece that represents what we stand for."

Mom Central Reviewed Us and Loved Us!!

On February 26, 2009, MomCentral.com reviewed our toys. The link for the review is posted below.

http://www.momcentral.com/reviews/figtoys.html

MomCentral is a great blog that is a one-stop web resource dedicated to providing busy moms with smart household and parenting solutions. Whether you’re looking for the latest AAP guidelines on toddlers and media, advice on how to handle that sticky situation with the PTA, or just a place to find suggestions on what book to include on your bedside table, they have it covered.

We are so happy to have made it to MomCentral's radar!! Thanks MomCentral for thinking our toys are great!! We think they are pretty cool too!!

Safe Toys This Holiday

The subject that is near and dear to our hearts was a topic discussed this morning on House Calls with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN.

A non-profit group called the Ecology Center says it found significant levels of toxic chemicals in one out of three toys that they tested this year. The group is testing more than 1,500 children's toys looking for lead, arsenic and other chemicals. And they're posting the results on their Web site, www.healthytoys.org.

Dr. Alan Greene, author of “Raising Baby Green” appeared on the show and had this advice for parents concerned about toxic toys. “…chose natural toys. And those things might be toys made out of solid wood, especially if it’s not finished or it is finished with a non-toxic finish.”

Regarding plastic toys, Dr. Greene warned of plasticizers that are used to make thing soft, especially things made out of vinyl of PVC, and BPA that is used as a hardening agent in some plastics.

The following link is to the complete transcript for the show which aired Sunday, December 7.



http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0812/06/hcsg.01.html

We love being noticed for being Green & Healthy

Thank you to the folks at Natural Path for linking to FigToys. Thank you also for helping us get the word out about our safe, natural toys through your GREEN and HEALTHY byways!!

We are being talked about and we like it!

We were thrilled to be noticed and we really appreciate comments about our toys on the Envirosavings blog. " Figtoys has some of the most darling fair trade, hand-crafted rubberwood toys I've ever seen." Thank you Cassie.

reference in Haute Nature

Thank you to the folks at hautenature.blogspot.com for linking to figtoys.com! We appreciate your noticing what we're up to. This is a great blog with tips on lots of green products.

And look for our ad and coupon in Kiwi and our ad in Cookie Magazine!

WELCOME

Welcome to figtoys!

fig is proud to launch its inaugural line of toys from MAYA Organic.

MAYA Organic is a Karnataka-based development organization started in 1989 with the primary focus of eradicating child labor. The early years focused mainly on enrollment of children to formal school and working with parents to facilitate an enabling and supportive environment. Over time, MAYA realized that while direct relief measures are necessary, a long-term and effective solution is only possible if systemic causes of poverty and child labor are addressed. Today MAYA addresses the most essential livelihood issues of the working poor by providing employment to independent workers' cooperatives in the fields of garments, toys, and construction.

For decades, the lacware industry had been a traditional occupation and the means of livelihood for the majority of male adults in Channapatna town. Yet the past few years have seen a steady decline in the industry caused by lack of investment in the industry, poor quality products and poor quality raw materials. A critical impact of this slump has been on the employment and livelihood patterns of those working in the industry. MAYA ORGANIC has created a new, unique brand of lacware educationalt oys that have been received with rave reviews in the international marketplace and are providing individuals throughout Channapatna with fair wage employment.